How to Hang Cabinet Doors: A Complete Guide

Once you’ve bored your hinge holes and attached your hinges, the next step is hanging the cabinet doors. This guide will take you through the process of hanging doors for a polished, professional finish, ensuring the doors are aligned based on the overlay chosen and whether the cabinets are framed or inset.

1. Install the Hinges on the Doors

Before hanging the cabinet doors, make sure the hinges are securely attached. If you’ve used our standard hinge boring option, the holes will be 4 1/4 inches from the top and bottom of the door, but if you opted to do the boring yourself, follow your custom placement for attaching the hinges.

• Place the hinges into the bored holes.
• Secure the hinges with screws, ensuring they are tightly fastened.

2. Attach the Hinge Plates to the Cabinet Frame

When attaching the hinge plates to the cabinet frame, the exact placement may depend on the overlay you chose when providing your door measurements or whether your cabinets are framed or inset.

For Overlay Doors:

• Align the door with the bottom of the frame based on the overlay size (e.g., 1/2", 1"). The overlay determines how much of the cabinet frame will be covered by the door.
• Attach the hinge plates so that the door sits flush and evenly covers the desired portion of the cabinet frame.

For Inset Doors:

• Inset doors sit inside the cabinet frame, flush with the frame itself. Ensure that the door is aligned perfectly within the cabinet opening.
• Attach the hinge plates so that the door sits completely inside the frame, with an even reveal around all sides.

Standard Hinge Plate Placement:

• For doors with our standard hinge boring, attach the top hinge plate 4 1/4 inches down from the top of the cabinet frame opening.
• Attach the bottom hinge plate 4 1/4 inches up from the bottom of the frame.
• For taller doors, install a third hinge plate midway between the top and bottom.

3. Hang the Door on the Cabinet

Once the hinge plates are in place:

• Align the door’s hinges with the hinge plates inside the cabinet frame.
• Clip the hinges into the hinge plates. Most modern hinges easily clip into place, though some may require a small screw for added security.

4. Adjust for Perfect Alignment

After hanging the door, fine-tune the alignment using the adjustment screws on the hinges. Most hinges allow for six-way adjustments:

• Up and down: Adjust the height so the door is level with the frame and aligned with the overlay you selected.
• Left and right: Ensure even spacing between the doors and the cabinet frame.
• In and out: Adjust the door’s depth to make sure it sits flush with the cabinet or inside the frame for inset doors.

5. Leave Even Gaps Between Doors

For side-by-side doors, leave a 1/8 inch gap between them. This ensures the doors open and close smoothly without rubbing against each other.

6. Test the Door

Once the door is aligned and adjusted, test it by opening and closing it several times. Ensure smooth operation and check that the gaps around the door are even.

Final Thoughts

Hanging cabinet doors is all about precision and alignment. Whether your doors are overlay or inset, following these steps ensures a seamless installation. Be sure to align the door based on the overlay chosen and whether the cabinet is framed or inset for a professional finish.